I had to bring Gavin to the doctor again just now. He suddenly developed a diahorrea and vomitted all his dinner. According to the doc, it seems he has caught another new virus. Now, he has to consume an entirely new set of medication after just completing his last for bronchitis yesterday!
Geez, this is becoming like a never ending story! When is my child ever going to be completely fit and free from viruses?
The doctor has told us for the umpteen time that this is part and parcel of a toddler’s schooling life. They will get sick, and they will get sick frequently. Be prepared for once every month, if not once every fortnight. Upon hearing this, his dad even suggested we should perhaps stop him from going to school. Idiotic as it sounds, that was exactly what happened last year when we pulled him out of tots school after just two terms because he was falling ill too many times.
But really. Pulling him out of school is definitely not an option now. As much as I want him to be healthy, I also want him to be educated. I can’t just keep him at home can I? Like it or not, schooling is an integral part of his life from now on and it’s not something we should make him avoid just because of our fears.
I must think of other ways to build up his immune system apart from his usual nutrition and vitamins so that he can continue to go to school and hopefully, keep the viruses at bay.
Poor thing. It’s exactly fun to be sick. Do load him with loads of water espy since he’s got diarrhea. And take care of yourself too; cant afford having both mommy and boy down at the same time.
Comment by Domestic Rat — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 9:09 am
Alamak! Typo error. I meant it’s NOT exactly fun to be sick.
Comment by Domestic Rat — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 9:10 am
Did you went back to the AMK clinic? There’s one doc there that always asks us to stop him from the pre-school:( How I wish! Then who is going to look after him, as I am working full time?!
Anyway, if you have decided to start him on school, just bite the bullet. The pain of seeing your child falling sick repeatedly, will go on for at least a year. I find getting them vaccinated regularly helps. Let him have plenty of rest when he is back home or in the weekends. I’ve been through that when Eu started school too! Hubby used to grumble he paid full month fees, but only utilized half:P
Comment by kwai yoke — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 9:46 am
Poor Gavin…get well soon!
I understand how it feels, i’m going through the same thing now…I just heard Damien cough last night! And i’m keeping my fingers crossed that his current med helps, else i’ll have to bring him back to the doc again..even my sis commented: “Why is he always on medication since he start school??”
I guess we’ll just have to brave through this..and take care of yourself too..
Comment by Eileen — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 10:02 am
I heard probiotic is good for the stomach.. I give Zara lots of yogurt to get this.
I heard a lot about kids getting ill frequently too after they start to go to school, too much germs floating around. Hope Gavin can build up his immunitiy, then mummy doesn’t have to get so worried all the time, and the little one doesn’t have to suffer so much.
Comment by zara's mama — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 11:37 am
Thanks ladies. It was a sudden bout and only one-time. He’s now well and normal except for a runny nose. Maybe his immune system is still low after last illness.
KY: I didn’t bring him back to SBCC this time, but his usual pediatrician. What type of vaccinations are you referring to? Is it for flu? I asked the doc about the vaccinations too but he didn’t think it is useful against such viruses.
Zara’s Mama: My boy doesn’t like yogurt leh. Tried to introduce to him a few times but without success.
Comment by sesame — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 3:16 pm
I understand how u feel. Between them, my 3 kids have been ill at least 5 times so far this year - very frustrating; i think maybe there is a bug going around. But it does get better as they grow older; i’ve seen that with my older 2.
If he doesn’t like yoghurt, you can give him cultured milk like Yakult. Not all yoghurt contains probiotics eg. Meiji yoghurt doesn’t (that’s why so cheap).
Comment by fuzzoo — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 @ 10:20 pm
So sorry to hear that he’s sick again. Try giving him cod liver oil. It helps to build immunity. His diet is important too. Try to stay off sugar if possible.
Comment by Ange — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 @ 1:59 am
I had them jabbed for chickenpox and flu. There are two views on giving children flu vaccines. I’m just hoping it will helps. Personally, I feel, you will start to see the benefit, only after having the second season vaccine and you need to do it regularly. For Eu, though he will still have flu, but the symptons are much less serious and he recovers faster.
It’s a road every child will walk, as long he/she will be going to school. It is stressful and painful, for both the child and mom. It’s not a never ending story, it just need time for the child’s body to adapt to germly school.
Comment by kwai yoke — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 @ 9:15 am
Poor Gavin..! hard on him..and harder on you ..SS, this is the main reason .. chloe is not going into any day care.. right now.
Hope he is way better by now.
Comment by Mama BoK — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 @ 2:33 pm
Ange, that’s the problem. I’m rather anal about his food. He was on an organic diet until recently. I don’t give him sugar (not even for his barley) and certainly keep sweets and ice-cream away from him. I also give him cod liver oil. Yet, he is not strong enough.
Fuzzoo, I give him Yacult sometimes but not often enough. It’s given more as a treat.
KY, I’ll go and check out the flu vaccine again. I’m like you. I think it’ll help.
Mama Bok, Choe is good where she is now. If you can avoid day care, then skip it for now.
Comment by sesame — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 @ 3:38 pm
My sister’s daughter went through the same thing in her first year of school - always in and out of the doctor’s, but after that first year, she was fine. My nephew, her second child, is much tougher, largely because he too suffered through his sister’s bugs - his first year at school was relatively bug-free. I think it happens to all children and think of it this way - the immunity gets built up by being exposed to all the bugs in the first place! I know it’s easy to say this, but very tough to suffer through it. Sara too started getting sick when she was at school, but she’s a thumbsucker and already has many germs in her, so it hasn’t been so tough for us….
Comment by Hsin — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 @ 8:21 pm
Oh dear… don’t worry, this is a self-limiting situation. He has to get well. It’s probably the same bug doing the whole round of the body. Think of it this way, by the time Gavin is in Pri school, he will pretty much be immune to all kinds of colds.
Comment by the diva — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 @ 10:12 pm